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With more than 8,000 members, the Greater Cleveland Partnership is one of the largest metropolitan chambers of commerce in the country. Learn about our work to advance economic development and improve the business climate in our city, region and state.

The active engagement and leadership of senior business executives are central to the GCP’s credibility and success. Consideration is given to ensure that the GCP Board represents the diversity that is present in Greater Cleveland.

New chair for Air Service Demand Task Force

In addition, GCP Board member Lee Thomas, Cleveland managing partner, Ernst & Young, has agreed to assume the chair of the Air Service Demand Task Force from former Board Chair William Christopher. See the next story for more information.

60 Seconds with Lee Thomas,
chair, Air Service Demand Task Force

Every Monday: You’ve been very involved with GCP for a number of years. What prompted you to accept the role as chairman of the Air Service Demand Task Force?

Lee Thomas: As a native Clevelander, I am passionate about the revitalization of the city. We have so much momentum going with various projects and developments. Having a hub here is critical to sustaining our growth.

EM: The task force has done some remarkable work on the United for Cleveland’s Hub initiative over the past couple of years. What’s your vision for the continuation of the committee’s work?

LT: Great progress has been made. It’s important to continue our education efforts. One of my first goals is to increase awareness of the hub’s value, especially the $4 billion annual economic impact and 3,500 jobs that it brings to Cleveland. With the hub, our city and our businesses grow.

EM: Why is the hub important to Ernst and Young and the Cleveland business community?

LT: As a global organization, we have many people who fly in and out of Cleveland annually. Having a hub provides easy, efficient access to direct flights to get our people where they need to be to serve our clients, then back home quickly to be with their families. Our people are our most valuable asset. We know work-life balance is important to them, and we place a great deal of focus on it. Many in our business community share these values. The hub also helps attract new businesses and increases the city’s desirability to companies making expansion decisions and to the talented professionals that our businesses seek to attract and retain.
EM: From your point of view, how has the business community supported the United for Cleveland’s Hub initiative?
LT: In general, I think the business community understands the value of the hub and have been willing to make decisions that support the use of the hub. The right relationship is one in which the city’s people get all the benefits of having a hub: easy access and multiple direct flights to major cities and connections to international flights. But on the flip side, it has to make good business sense for the hub to be here. We’ve also seen Cleveland emerge as a prime location for major events, such as the Senior Games last summer and the upcoming Gay Games in 2014. The business community has a big hand in attracting events that spur the local economy, and, in turn, it promotes the use of the hub.

EM: The United Shareholders Meeting will be held in Cleveland in June 2014. What would you like to tell the directors about Cleveland?

LT: Cleveland is home to a vast mix of businesses, many with global and national operations. That, along with our world-class health care, vibrant arts and culture scene, and many new economic developments, makes the demand for the hub in Cleveland great.

One of the main goals of the redesigned kiosks is to improve overall customer interaction, making it quicker and more intuitive, with an easy-to-use interface. The airline met with customers and employees to get their feedback and better understand their needs. As a result, page layouts have simplified and instructions clarified.

Unaccompanied minors policy is changing

Effective December 5, 2013, United is only accepting unaccompanied minors for travel on nonstop United or United Express operated flights.

Ages 5-11: Unaccompanied minor service is required and must be booked on nonstop itineraries. This change is similar to policies of several U.S. airlines.

Ages 12-17 Unaccompanied minor service remains optional but must be booked on nonstop flights if requested.

Children younger than 5 are not accepted as unaccompanied minors on United or United Express flights.

United will honor unaccompanied minor requests for tickets purchased prior to December 5, 2013, where connecting United or United Express flights were included in the original itinerary, including ticket exchanges.

Cleveland International Fund (CiF) has received a national award from a pool of 400 similar organizations for its successful role in boosting the Northeast Ohio economy. CiF earned the EB-5 Regional Center of the Year Award from EB5NewsBlog.org by Artisan Business Group, Inc.

The award states that “CiF is responsible for promoting local economic development in America’s heartland including the greater Cleveland, Ohio area. CiF has shown tremendous efforts to educate the local governments and economic development groups on the benefits of the EB-5 regional center program.”

GCP Membership

Greater Cleveland Partnership

Our Mission

The Greater Cleveland Partnership mobilizes private-sector leadership, expertise and resources to create attractive business conditions that create jobs, grow investment and improve the economic prosperity of the region.